Pennsylvania Nurse Practitioner Certification

In Pennsylvania, NPs are referred to as CRNPs. CRNPs are RNs who have
completed advanced education programs and are certified in clinical
specialty areas. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing regulates NPs
in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania NPs do not act completely independently and must
practice under the supervision of a licensed physician. The requirement
means that the physician must be reachable at all times, whether by
phone, email, directly, or otherwise. Physicians provide advice, make
referrals, establish drug protocols, and more. Pennsylvania NPs perform
many tasks. They may examine, assess, diagnose, and treat patients with
acute or chronic health issues; order and interpret diagnostic tests
and lab studies; educate patients in the best way to promote good
health and avoid diseases or illnesses; provide orders for care to RNs;
and prescribe and administer medications and devices in their area of
specialty, as long as they have met additional requirements.

After you have completed your APN program, you are eligible to
be certified as a nurse practitioner in your area of specialty. You must be certified
by a national professional certifying organization recognized by the
Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, such as the AANP.
In order to prescribe medications, you must have successfully completed
at least 45 hours of course work specific to advanced pharmacology and
have a collaborative agreement with a physician.

Pennsylvania NPs earn an average of $85,000 per year. Salaries
may vary based upon factors such as your location, place of employment,
experience, and specialization.